Re-gearing to 4.10's

19AT4 · January 16, 2020

I can't stand these 3.23 gears, I recently installed a 2" level along with 34's and I can hardly use 8th gear anymore. I expected a power loss with the new tires but it's pretty bad. Here's a little example, 1300rpm @ 60mph and 2200rpm @ 100mph. The 8 speeds seem to lug all the time (For fuel economy I guess) My previous truck had 3.92's with the 8 speed and it was awesome, the first 2 gears are really long on these GM 8 speeds as well. I use to be at the top of 3rd by 60mph (Previous truck) and I can almost hit 60mph in 2nd now. Has anyone looked into re-gearing? I'd do 4.10's for sure, I hear it's very pricy though. Would $2-2500 CAD all said and done be reasonable for a 4x4? I recall guys custom tuning the last gen 5.3 and 6.2's to stop it from lugging everywhere but the tuning I priced out is $3-3500 including the new PCM, credits and dyno time.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

bshort · January 17, 2020

I did it to a truck about 15 years ago and it was about 2K then. Really was a great investment though. With these newer trucks, I would worry about how well everything will play together. Will you have to reprogram the tcm and can you even do this? What else won't be happy with a gear change? I don't have the answer, so you'll just have to be the first and see what happens.

asalinasz39 · January 17, 2020

I agree. My 17 silverado with the 5.3 8 speed 3.42 gears had no trouble pushing 60lb 33" mud tires. I would average 15mpg city/highway.

My AT4 with the oem 42lb 32" tires 5.3 8 speed 3.23 gears in giving me 15mpg already before even upgrading to bigger heavier tires. I dont know why they didnt stick with the 3.42s at least.

CamGTP · January 17, 2020

Yeah, tuning is a pretty major shot to the nads.

$1,900 USD just for the computer and credits and I don't even know what if anything can be done about gear ratio changes for the TCM. Plus all the warranty goes away.

19AT4 · January 19, 2020

On 1/17/2020 at 1:48 PM, CamGTP said:

Yeah, tuning is a pretty major shot to the nads.

$1,900 USD just for the computer and credits and I don't even know what if anything can be done about gear ratio changes for the TCM. Plus all the warranty goes away.

I’m not sure either, it’s $2700 CAD up here just for the PCM and credits to tune. Add at least another $500 for the custom tuning. I figured you’d gain a lot more going to 4.10’s vs a custom tune. I’ll have to ask the dealer and see what’s involved. You’d think the 3.73’s would work but I wouldn’t pay 2+k for those gears.

19AT4 · January 19, 2020

On 1/17/2020 at 8:54 AM, asalinasz39 said:

I agree. My 17 silverado with the 5.3 8 speed 3.42 gears had no trouble pushing 60lb 33" mud tires. I would average 15mpg city/highway.

My AT4 with the oem 42lb 32" tires 5.3 8 speed 3.23 gears in giving me 15mpg already before even upgrading to bigger heavier tires. I dont know why they didnt stick with the 3.42s at least.

True, for an “off road” truck you’d think they’d come with 3.73’s. I got 18mpg pretty easy on the stock duratracs. I can hardly get 15-16 now with the 34’s at 60mph.

Roy2895 · January 21, 2020

Do you think it's just a matter of waiting? I really hope so.

I had a '13 Silverado 5.3 6 speed 3.42 and went with 4.10 gears and a tune and loved it. I was hoping to do that with my '19 but now I'm finding that the tunes are incredibly expensive and I'm not sure Yukon makes ring and pinion sets for the '19s yet.

AJMBLAZER · January 26, 2020

Be patient. Tuning will come.

Halfdozen · January 30, 2020

On 1/16/2020 at 5:58 PM, 19AT4 said:

I can't stand these 3.23 gears, I recently installed a 2" level along with 34's and I can hardly use 8th gear anymore. I expected a power loss with the new tires but it's pretty bad. Here's a little example, 1300rpm @ 60mph and 2200rpm @ 100mph. The 8 speeds seem to lug all the time (For fuel economy I guess) My previous truck had 3.92's with the 8 speed and it was awesome, the first 2 gears are really long on these GM 8 speeds as well. I use to be at the top of 3rd by 60mph (Previous truck) and I can almost hit 60mph in 2nd now. Has anyone looked into re-gearing? I'd do 4.10's for sure, I hear it's very pricy though. Would $2-2500 CAD all said and done be reasonable for a 4x4? I recall guys custom tuning the last gen 5.3 and 6.2's to stop it from lugging everywhere but the tuning I priced out is $3-3500 including the new PCM, credits and dyno time.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

I too am coming from a vehicle with 3.92 with an 8 speed. (Ram hemi). Yes it had balls, so to speak compared to this 5.3 with 3.23. My LT has the same set up, but is lifted 6 inches with 35x12.50r20 with 20x11 after market rims. I live in the Dallas Fort Worth area where the posted speed limit is 70 mph on the freeway. The 5.3, 3.23 and 8 speed isn’t that bad. It doesn’t hunt gears like some people might think. Would it do better with a 3.42,3.73, or 4.11? Sure, but to say you can’t use 8th gear anymore with 34’s... To each his own I guess, but the 5.3/8 speed doesn’t deserve the bad rap it gets. Let us know how much the gear change ends up costing.

CamGTP · January 30, 2020

On 1/26/2020 at 5:15 AM, AJMBLAZER said:

Be patient. Tuning will come.

But it's already here and it costs a ton of money lol.

AJMBLAZER · January 30, 2020

Last year it was, “will never be tuned.”

Now it can be tuned but it’s expensive.

Give it some time.

CamGTP · January 31, 2020

Don't hold your breath. Many folks were right that it can never be tuned and that is still sorta fact. It required a replacement computer to do this.

The L5P diesel truck tuning have been on the market for a few years now, prices have not dropped since that time and the course of action is the same from the T1 trucks. Maybe in 5 years prices will drop but it surely won't be 6 month or 12 months from now that prices will come down enough to make people flog to it.

19AT4 · February 1, 2020

On 1/29/2020 at 9:01 PM, Halfdozen said:

I too am coming from a vehicle with 3.92 with an 8 speed. (Ram hemi). Yes it had balls, so to speak compared to this 5.3 with 3.23. My LT has the same set up, but is lifted 6 inches with 35x12.50r20 with 20x11 after market rims. I live in the Dallas Fort Worth area where the posted speed limit is 70 mph on the freeway. The 5.3, 3.23 and 8 speed isn’t that bad. It doesn’t hunt gears like some people might think. Would it do better with a 3.42,3.73, or 4.11? Sure, but to say you can’t use 8th gear anymore with 34’s... To each his own I guess, but the 5.3/8 speed doesn’t deserve the bad rap it gets. Let us know how much the gear change ends up costing.

I’m not shaming the 5.3, 8 speed combo. In stock form it’s pretty good. I feel like 35’s would be terrible with the 3.23 gears though. Any slight incline and I’m in 6-7th gear. I just drove 500km’s today and I averaged 14mpg, pure highway. I see guys have re-geared the last gen but I can’t even find gears for these new ones. Plus I have no idea what’s all needed for the swap. I’m really hoping tuning won’t be required.

19AT4 · February 1, 2020

On 1/30/2020 at 8:33 PM, CamGTP said:

Don't hold your breath. Many folks were right that it can never be tuned and that is still sorta fact. It required a replacement computer to do this.

The L5P diesel truck tuning have been on the market for a few years now, prices have not dropped since that time and the course of action is the same from the T1 trucks. Maybe in 5 years prices will drop but it surely won't be 6 month or 12 months from now that prices will come down enough to make people flog to it.

Agreed, it’s still 7-10k CAD to delete the l5P around here. I can understand the cost for the new/unlocked PCM but I can’t understand why it’s another $500 for the credits. Not to mention the custom tuning. I got quoted $2700 before any tuning is done.

Halfdozen · February 2, 2020

On 1/31/2020 at 10:12 PM, 19AT4 said:

I’m not shaming the 5.3, 8 speed combo. In stock form it’s pretty good. I feel like 35’s would be terrible with the 3.23 gears though. Any slight incline and I’m in 6-7th gear. I just drove 500km’s today and I averaged 14mpg, pure highway. I see guys have re-geared the last gen but I can’t even find gears for these new ones. Plus I have no idea what’s all needed for the swap. I’m really hoping tuning won’t be required.

Everyone has their own opinion, but it’s not that bad. The sky is definitely not falling when you lift and put 35s with the 5.3, 8 speed and 3.23. DFW area has lots of hills and it holds 8th gear no problem. Now I will say that it is quick to drop a gear on a hill when in sport mode, but it was like that stock too. Keep it in drive and normal mode and she runs with no issues. She is slower for sure with 70 lbs tires plus whatever the rims are, but I’m still averaging 16 in stop and go traffic mixed with hwy. I agree though, that I miss the power of the Ram and I will probably purchase some 3.73s in the future just for fun and towing purposes. Hope you figure out something to make you happier with your purchase.
In old day standards though, this truck would be considered fast.